My new 400 f2.8E FL ED VR, sharpest lens I have ever used

[Lance B]

My favourite lens used to be the 300 f2.8 VRII, just stupid sharp and great overall IQ and this was backed up by DXO Mark which had it as the equal 2nd sharpest lens by Nikon, the 200 f2 VR being the sharpest @ 34 P-Mpix and the old 400 f2.8 VR and 300 f2.8 VR one point behind at 33 P-Mpix - nothing in it really. However, this new 400 f2.8E FL VR is just in another league, it is as sharp at f2.8 as it is stopped down! Put a TC on it, any TC, and you can hardly see it affect the IQ, even wide open!! There has been controversy about the new test site "Lenscore"

http://www.lenscore.org/ (http://)

which rated the 400 f2.8E FL VR as the sharpest long tele they have tested, but I can vouch for it, it is ridiculously sharp and detailed with great overall IQ. Not only that, but every other aspect is a large step up. AF speed is blindingly fast and accurate, the bokeh is excellent as is contrast and colour balance.

The lens bare is stupid sharp and fantastic overall IQ.
Add the 1.4x TCIII and it is sharper than the 500 f4 VR, even wide open!
Add th 1.7x TCII and it is sharper than the 500 f4 + 1.4x TCIII, even wide open!
Add the 2x TCIII and it is sharper than the 500 f4 + 1.4x TCIII, even wide open!

My 500 f4 VR is now up for sale.

Some samples I took yesterday on my D810 to try it out:

@ f3.5, ISO224

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348218/original.jpg

100% crop of above

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348219/original.jpg

With 1.4x TCIII @ f5.6, ISO1425

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348207/original.jpg

With 1.4x TCIII @ f4 WIDE OPEN!!, ISO141

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348195/original.jpg

100% crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348196/original.jpg

With 1.4x TCIII @ f5, ISO283

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348209/original.jpg

crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348210/original.jpg

With 2x TCIII f7.1, ISO1008

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348213/original.jpg

100% crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348214/original.jpg

With 1.7x TCII f4.8 WIDE OPEN!!, ISO400

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348220/original.jpg

100% crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348222/original.jpg

Bare @ f3.2, ISO64

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348223/original.jpg

crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348224/original.jpg

Bare @ f3.5, ISO64

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348216/original.jpg

100% crop of above:

http://www.pbase.com/lance_b/image/159348217/original.jpg

[macmich]

well I agree wholly, that lens with your skill is a cracker

[Lance B]

well I agree wholly, that lens with your skill is a cracker

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, macmich! :)

[cupic]

Lance Lance Lance you making me cry .....
Clean Crisp Clear
This should be your Signature
Dropping some serious coin and with your skills .....
I want to be your understudy
My retina display is crying as well as being killer sharp :nlogo::nlogo::nlogo:

cheers

[mpb]

Yeah, yeah, but maybe a bit too sharp, they are soo sharp they make my eyes hurt. ;)

[Lance B]

Lance Lance Lance you making me cry .....
Clean Crisp Clear
This should be your Signature
Dropping some serious coin and with your skills .....
I want to be your understudy
My retina display is crying as well as being killer sharp :nlogo::nlogo::nlogo:

cheers

Thank you very much for your wonderful comments, Cupic! :)

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Yeah, yeah, but maybe a bit too sharp, they are soo sharp they make my eyes hurt. ;)

Is that possible? :)

[Dennis Estigoy]

That's really ridiculous! You can take macro shots with your objects 20 feet away. Congrats on your new weapon, mate!

[Unique Faces]

Wow ! What an incredible performer :th3:

[helmutk]

Lance congrats on your super Lens the images are great thanks for sharing

[Lance B]

That's really ridiculous! You can take macro shots with your objects 20 feet away. Congrats on your new weapon, mate!

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Dennis! :)

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Wow ! What an incredible performer :th3:

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, Unique Faces! :)

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Lance congrats on your super Lens the images are great thanks for sharing

Thank you very much for taking the time to look and for your lovely comments, Helmut! :)

[auz80]

Really impressive! Superb photos of beautiful birds. Thanks Lance!

Cheers, Don

[Glen1]

So sharp it's cut those birds in half. Have fun with your new toy.

Regards
Glen1

[Lance B]

Really impressive! Superb photos of beautiful birds. Thanks Lance!

Cheers, Don

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Don! :)

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So sharp it's cut those birds in half. Have fun with your new toy.

Regards
Glen1

Thank you vedry much fr your kind comments, Glen! :)

[salnel]

All I can say is WOW..all shots are so sharp and detailed ...just brilliant.

[feathers]

Can see why you love this lens sooo much. Great pics,.. and looking forward to seeing many more in the future:) Cheers.

[Lance B]

All I can say is WOW..all shots are so sharp and detailed ...just brilliant.

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, Sally! :)

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Can see why you love this lens sooo much. Great pics,.. and looking forward to seeing many more in the future:) Cheers.

Thank you very much for your wonderful comments, Feathers! :)

[bitsnpieces]

Definitely looks great, but I don't know if it's just me or does the head crop of the brown duck have some slight green colour fringing (or whatever it's called)?
Mostly noticeable between the eye and beak.

It doesn't occur on all images, just that one, and the tiny bird (absolutely extremely very little).

Anyways, just on a side note, do you think your D810 might suffer from a very very little bit of front focus?
I'm only making the observation because I'm presuming you focused on the eye for your images.

[geoff72]

Great shots, so clear and sharp

[cupic]

[QUOTE=Lance B;1282958]Thank you very much for your wonderful comments, Cupic! :)

Does that mean you will take me on as your apprentice :D

[MissNarniee]

:eek: Seriously awesome shots!!

[Lance B]

Great shots, so clear and sharp

Thank you very much for your kind comment, Geoff! :)

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Definitely looks great, but I don't know if it's just me or does the head crop of the brown duck have some slight green colour fringing (or whatever it's called)?
Mostly noticeable between the eye and beak.

It doesn't occur on all images, just that one, and the tiny bird (absolutely extremely very little).


Yes, it was moire, but I have fixed it. The reason is, this lens is so sharp that moire becomes more of an issue. Less sharp lenses tend to mask the fact that the sensor has no AA filter. In otherwords, the lens acts a little like an AA filter. However this lens is so sharp that there is no hiding from moire in fine detail. I wasn't going to worry about it, but now someone has decided to be critical I thought I would go the extra and fix it.


Anyways, just on a side note, do you think your D810 might suffer from a very very little bit of front focus?
I'm only making the observation because I'm presuming you focused on the eye for your images.

No, the camera and lens were corrected for any front rear focus issues by Nikon and I have verified that it is spot on. If there is some front focus it is because my focus point was not perfectly where I wanted it as it is quite a challenge to handhold a lens of this length, many using TC's making it worse and be 100% perfectly accurate. If that is the worst you can criticise, then I am happy even of you are not.

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[QUOTE=Lance B;1282958]Thank you very much for your wonderful comments, Cupic! :)

Does that mean you will take me on as your apprentice :D

More than happy for you to tag along for some photoshoots. :)

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:eek: Seriously awesome shots!!

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, MissNarniee! :)

[bricat]

So I guess we might as well not enter any bird competitions now Lance. :):)

[Lance B]

So I guess we might as well not enter any bird competitions now Lance. :):)

LOL. I am sure ultimate resolution is only part of the story. :)

[bitsnpieces]

Ah, good info to know about the moire issue - I wasn't sure so was just curious :) Thank you :)

[CarlR]

Great shots displaying incredible sharpness and detail (no doubt aided by solid technique!).

[Lance B]

Great shots displaying incredible sharpness and detail (no doubt aided by solid technique!).

Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Carl! :)

[red2thebones]

Awesome performance, both man and machine :)
The skill you showed, I must say, is inspiring, thank you for sharing.

[Lance B]

Awesome performance, both man and machine :)
The skill you showed, I must say, is inspiring, thank you for sharing.

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, red2thebones! :) You are very kind.

[richardb]

Perfect shots :th3:
I have the 300mm f/2.8 VR2 got it at Grays of Westminster, London. Have not use it too often.:)

[Lance B]

Perfect shots :th3:
I have the 300mm f/2.8 VR2 got it at Grays of Westminster, London. Have not use it too often.:)

Thank you very much for your lovely comments, Richard! :)

The 300 f2.8 VRII is also one of Nikon's best ever lenses and is still one of my favourite lenses. According to DXO Mark, it is equal second for sharpness, along with the old 400 f2.8, on 33P-Mpix after the 200 f2 on 34P-Mpix. The new 400 will test sharper I am sure.

[sanger]

Those photo's are amazing and I cannot get over the sharpness.

I hope it's ok to post these just as a comparison between them.

Cheers

[Lance B]

Those photo's are amazing and I cannot get over the sharpness.

Thank you very much for your lovely comment, sanger! :)


I hope it's ok to post these just as a comparison between them.

Cheers

No problems, but what lens and camera are you using?

[sanger]

Thank you very much for your lovely comment, sanger! :)



No problems, but what lens and camera are you using?

This photo was taken on a Nikon D3100 55-200.

[Lance B]

This photo was taken on a Nikon D3100 55-200.

Ah, I see. The difference between an approximately $220 lens and a $12,500 lens. I would be sorely disappointed if there was not a difference! :)

[oneeyedphoto]

Lance - You may get into serious trouble with the authorities owning WMD's (weapons of mass detail) :)

[Lance B]

Lance - You may get into serious trouble with the authorities owning WMD's (weapons of mass detail) :)

LOL. I'll have to watch out in future, I might be invaded by the US! :)

[knumbnutz]

it looks like its the sort of lens which you just buy another camera for just so it is always mounted to a camera... always.

Very sweet.

Bokeh on nikon lenses for me is interesting in that in some conditions I don't really like it where as surprisingly the Sigmas i have had always rendered better in this department, but FWIW, the bokeh is no issue that i could see in the shots you posted which is good to see.

soooooo, now it looks like you have a super 800 f5.6 setup too !!

[Lance B]

it looks like its the sort of lens which you just buy another camera for just so it is always mounted to a camera... always.

Very sweet.

Bokeh on nikon lenses for me is interesting in that in some conditions I don't really like it where as surprisingly the Sigmas i have had always rendered better in this department, but FWIW, the bokeh is no issue that i could see in the shots you posted which is good to see.

soooooo, now it looks like you have a super 800 f5.6 setup too !!

Thank you very much for your lovely comments and thoughts, Neil. Much appreciated! :)

[Margaret]

Absolutely stunning!!

[Lance B]

Absolutely stunning!!

You are very kind, Margaret. Thank you for your lovely comment! :)

[JasonR]

Really sharp! Some great shots aswell.

[Lance B]

Really sharp! Some great shots aswell.

Thank you very much for your kind comment, Jason! :)

[Sdison]

Came in here to look at photos. Didn't expect to be sliced open by the sharpness!

[Lance B]

Came in here to look at photos. Didn't expect to be sliced open by the sharpness!

Thank you very much for your kind comment (I think!), Sam. :)